HTC One X (GSM) : detailed instructions to unlock bootloader, install custom recovery and root

This only applies to the international (GSM) HTC One X model (the one with a Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset).


A - Unlock the bootloader
First of all, you have to unlock the bootloader as explained in HTC One X : HTCdev provides a process to unlock the bootloader. Although the HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader dedicated site provides very clear instructions, some may rather like to follow the detailed step by step instructions provided by [Tut] Preparing Your One X for Custom Roms (For Dummies).


B - Install a custom recovery

The second step is to install a custom recovery. I followed the detailed step by step instructions from [Tut] Preparing Your One X for Custom Roms (For Dummies)

B.1) Download the recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-5.8.3.1-endeavoru.img from MANDATORY UPDATE 26/4 Official Clockworkmod Touch Recovery 5.8.3.1 Charging Fixed!!!. The link directs to the touch version of the custom recovery. A non-touch version of the custom recovery is available at ROM Manager - ROMs and Recovery Images.

B.2) Put the recovery image you've just downloaded into the same directory as the fastboot executable.

B.3) Check the MD5 checksum of the recovery image you've just downloaded. Open a command prompt and enter the command :


droid $ md5 recovery-clockwork-touch-5.8.3.1-endeavoru.img
MD5 (recovery-clockwork-touch-5.8.3.1-endeavoru.img) = 6adc7248475c61cc5eb2ec951d3d0df0
droid $


Check the red part with the one provided with the recovery image.

B.4) Power off the HTC One X

B.5) Power on the HTC One X in bootloader mode by holding Volume-Down button while pressing the Power button.
FASTBOOT should be highlighted in blue.
Before doing this, you should ensure your phone has at least 50% battery !!

B.6) Select the FASTBOOT item (highlight using Volume-Up / Volume-Down button) the press the Power button.
FASTBOOT should now be highlighted in red.

B.7) Plug the HTC One X on the USB cable.
FASTBOOT should become FASTBOOT USB still highlighted in red.

B.8) From the command prompt you used in step B.3), enter the command


droid $ fastboot flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-5.8.3.1-endeavoru.img
sending 'recovery' (5732 KB)...
OKAY [ 0.885s]
writing 'recovery'...
(bootloader) Format partition SOS done
OKAY [ 0.556s]
finished. total time: 1.441s
droid $


B.9) Power off the HTC One X using the Volume-Down button 3 times to select POWER DOWN. Then press the Power button.

B.10) Power on the HTC One X in bootloader mode by holding Volume-Down button while pressing the Power button.
The FASTBOOT item should be highlighted in blue.

B.11) Choose the RECOVERY item (the 2nd one) using Volume-Down button. Then press the Power button.
The "quietly brilliant" white HTC screen appears briefly.
Then the "ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1" black screen appears.
The "Reboot system now" item is highlighted in blue.

B.12) Touch the "backup and restore" item.
The "Nandroid" screen appears.
The "backup" item is highlighted in blue.

B.13) Touch the "backup" item
The screen changes and the backup begins : boot image, recovery image, system, data, .android-secure, cache, sd-ext.
A md5 sum is automatically generated.
A "backup complete" message appears and the menu reappears.

B.14) Touch the "reboot system now" item to reboot your HTC One X.

The custom recovery is installed and you now have a backup from which you can recover if things goes wrong later.


C - Root the HTC One X

The third step is to root the HTC One X.
I followed the instructions from Installing a custom recovery which also explains how to install the [07.05.2012] SuperSU v0.89.

C.1) Download the SuperSU application (file CWM-SuperSU-v0.89.zip) which is attached in the [07.05.2012] SuperSU v0.89.

C.2) Put the SuperSU application (file CWM-SuperSU-v0.89.zip) at the root of your HTC One X sdcard (into the folder /sdcard). There are different ways to do it. I rather like to use the adb push command


droid $ adb push CWM-SuperSU-v0.89.zip /sdcard/CWM-SuperSU-v0.89.zip
786 KB/s (569873 bytes in 0.707s)
droid $ adb shell
shell@android:/ $ ls -l /sdcard/CW*
----rwxr-x system sdcard_rw 569873 2012-05-08 20:58 CWM-SuperSU-v0.89.zip
shell@android:/ $ exit
droid $


C.3) Unplug the USB cable from the HTC One X

C.4) Power off the HTC One X

C.5) Power on the HTC One X in bootloader mode by holding Volume-Down button while pressing the Power button.
FASTBOOT should be highlighted in blue.
Before doing this, you should ensure your phone has at least 50% battery !!

C.6) Select RECOVERY using the Volume-Down button, then press the Power button.
The "quietly brilliant" white HTC screen appears briefly.
Then the "ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1" black screen appears.
The "Reboot system now" item is highlighted in blue.

C.7) Touch the 2nd item "install zip from sdcard"
The screen "Apply update from .zip on SD card" appears with the item "choose zip from sdcard" highlighted in blue.

C.8) Touch the highlighted item "choose zip from sdcard"
The screen "Choose a zip to apply" appears with a list of files and directories.
Scroll through the files and directories (with your finger) and touch the file CWM-SuperSU-v0.89.zip.
The screen "Confirm install ?" appears.

C.9) Touch the item "Yes - Install CWM-SuperSU-v0.89.zip"
The installation begins and a log is displayed on the screen.
Then you're back on the screen "Apply update from .zip on SD card".

C.10) Touch the last item "++++Go Back++++"
You're now back on the screen "ClockworkMod Recovery v5.8.3.1"
The "Reboot system now" item is highlighted in blue.

C.11) Touch the "Reboot system now" item.
The HTC One X reboots.

C.12) The SuperSU application appears among the other applications on your HTC One X.
Touch the SuperSU application.

If you like SuperSU and want to support it, maybe would you want to upgrade to the SuperSU Pro.


Important note about the SuperSU rooting application

The following quote comes from SuperSU - Chainfire

The discussion and support thread can be found on XDA-Developers here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1538053

SUPERUSER
This is meant to replace Superuser (if installed), you use either one or the other. You cannot combine them. Statements that this breaks Superuser are therefore completely nonsensical.

NOTICE: A SPECIAL PROCEDURE IS NEEDED FOR UNINSTALLATION. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE APP, DO *NOT* JUST UNINSTALL IT, YOU *WILL* LOSE ROOT.
Superuser access management runs through a so called "su binary". There can be only one of these at a time. So if you install SuperSU, your previous superuser access management solution will no longer operate. So if you want to switch back: (1) Open that application, and search for an option for it to install/update/replace the "su binary". (2) Confirm root-using apps are using the superuser solution you want. (3) Uninstall SuperSU.